Government Center

MOVE COVANTA WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANT OUT OF DORAL

Following the fire at the Covanta Waste-to-Energy plant, that began on February 12, 2023, City of Doral leadership and residents united to ask for action from the Miami-Dade County (MDC) Board of County Commissions. At the recent MDC Commission Meeting, Mayor Christi Fraga, Doral Councilmembers and concerned citizens attended and spoke during public comments, imploring the Commissioners to find solutions that will remove the Covanta plant from Doral. After speaking to their experience with the fire and affects it had on their health and wellness, and waiting for several hours for the item to be discussed, the MDC Board of County Commissioners rescinded the hasty vote they took last year that would’ve resulted in a new plant being built near the current one, still in the City of Doral.

This is a step in the right direction as the County will now be evaluating other locations to possibly move the plant outside of our community. At the March Doral Council Meeting, Mayor Fraga and Council approved additional measures to aid in these efforts that include the creation of a petition and hiring of experts to also look at viable options, both of which will be instrumental in helping Doral succeed in having the plant moved. There is still much to do and it will require the community to remain united, active and engaged.

If you would like to see the Covanta Waste-to-Emergency Plant moved by Miami Dade County outside of the City of Doral, please sign the below petition.
*This petition is not legally binding and under Florida law, e-mail addresses, street addresses, and the information submitted in the electronic petition are public records. If you do not want your personal information released in response to a public records request, do not complete the petition. If you choose to share personal information, you should be aware that Florida has a broad public records law that requires public disclosure of such information unless exempted by law.

March 13, 2023

Step in Right Direction for Moving Covanta Out of Doral

Following the fire at the Covanta Waste-to-Energy plant, that began on February 12, 2023, City of Doral leadership and residents united to ask for action from the Miami-Dade County (MDC) Board of County Commissions. At the recent MDC Commission Meeting, Mayor Christi Fraga, Doral Councilmembers and concerned citizens attended and spoke during public comments, imploring the Commissioners to find solutions that will remove the Covanta plant from Doral. After speaking to their experience with the fire and affects it had on their health and wellness, and waiting for several hours for the item to be discussed, the MDC Board of County Commissioners rescinded the hasty vote they took last year that would’ve resulted in a new plant being built near the current one, still in the City of Doral.

This is a step in the right direction as they will now be evaluating other locations to possibly move the plant outside of our community. At the March Doral Council Meeting, Mayor Fraga and Council approved additional measures to aid in these efforts that include the creation of a petition and hiring of experts to also look at viable options, both of which will be instrumental in helping Doral succeed in having the plant moved. There is still much to do and it will require the community to remain united, active and engaged. We ask that you continue to follow the City of Doral on social media and visiting www.cityofdoral.com/wastefire for updates and calls to action as this process is ongoing. Thank you, Doral!

March 9, 2023

The Resources Recovery Facility is the only location in Miami-Dade that can safely process large quantities of waste tires, accepting more than 17,000 tons (approximately 1,700,000 passenger tires) of waste tires for processing per year. The shredding process takes place in a separate part of the facility not impacted by the fire; it does not involve any kind of incineration and can continue to take place in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The whole tires are shredded and then trucked to landfills for disposal.

If left unattended, stockpiles of waste tires pose serious health, safety, and environmental risks. Unattended stockpiles of waste tires can become fire hazards and collect stagnant water which is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. There is an immediate need to process tires that are accumulating at our landfills and Trash and Recycling Centers before they become an environmental issue. As a result, tire processing at the Resources Recovery Facility will recommence on Wednesday, March 8. No other type of waste processing is taking place at the facility.

February 24, 2023

Fire at County Waste-to-Energy Facility

Miami-Dade County Update on Waste-to-Energy Facility Fire (Feb 24 Update)

Miami-Dade County continues its 24 hour-a-day response at the plant. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue team has gained increased access to the remaining areas of the site and is suppressing small spot-fires. On-site staff continues to clear debris from the site, hauling 130 truckloads of waste from the facility during the last 24 hours. Site operations have created little to no additional smoke, helping to maintain air quality readings for the surrounding area. The latest reports show average particulate concentrations in the good/moderate range, which have already improved with this morning's wind and weather conditions.

Based on these latest reports, residents in the area can continue to enjoy outdoor activities but should be mindful that conditions may vary throughout the day. Residents should consider heading indoors if they experience smoky conditions and continue limiting their exposure to the immediate area of the plant. We recommend running your air conditioning at home to re-circulate air in your house and changing your air filter more frequently than usual.

Miami-Dade County and the City of Doral continue to coordinate with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghami of Jackson Health System (JHS), reviewing daily reports and providing updated health recommendations. Should residents experience any serious health issues including chest pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or an acute skin rash, they should seek medical attention or consider visiting:

  • UHealth Jackson Urgent Care | Doral located at 7400 NW 104th Ave, Doral, FL 33178 or, 
  • Jackson West Medical Center | Emergency Department located at 2801 NW 79th Ave, Doral, FL 33122   


JHS staff will track and monitor any increase in respiratory cases, although none have been reported at this time. As conditions continue to improve on site, medical staff advise that symptoms caused by particulate pollution exposure should be temporary. 

The full reports and the latest updates and information can be found here:  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

Doral residents will continue to receive additional communications and updates from the City of Doral.

February 23, 2023

Fire at County Waste-to-Energy Facility

Miami-Dade County Update on Waste-to-Energy Facility Fire (Feb 23 Update)

Miami (February 23) – Miami-Dade County continues its 24 hour-a-day response at the plant. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue team has gained increased access to the remaining areas of the site and is suppressing small spot-fires. On-site staff continues to clear debris from the site, hauling 130 truckloads of waste from the facility during the last 24 hours. Site operations have created little to no additional smoke, helping to maintain air quality readings for the surrounding area. The latest reports show average particulate concentrations in the good/moderate range, which have already improved with this morning's wind and weather conditions.

Based on these latest reports, residents in the area can continue to enjoy outdoor activities but should be mindful that conditions may vary throughout the day. Residents should consider heading indoors if they experience smoky conditions and continue limiting their exposure to the immediate area of the plant. We recommend running your air conditioning at home to re-circulate air in your house and changing your air filter more frequently than usual.

Miami-Dade County and the City of Doral continue to coordinate with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghami of Jackson Health System (JHS), reviewing daily reports and providing updated health recommendations. Should residents experience any serious health issues including chest pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or an acute skin rash, they should seek medical attention or consider visiting:

  • UHealth Jackson Urgent Care | Doral located at 7400 NW 104th Ave, Doral, FL 33178 or, 
  • Jackson West Medical Center | Emergency Department located at 2801 NW 79th Ave, Doral, FL 33122   


JHS staff will track and monitor any increase in respiratory cases, although none have been reported at this time. As conditions continue to improve on site, medical staff advise that symptoms caused by particulate pollution exposure should be temporary. 

The full reports and the latest updates and information can be found here:  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

Doral residents will continue to receive additional communications and updates from the City of Doral.

February 22, 2023

Fire at County Waste-to-Energy Facility

Miami-Dade County Update on Waste-to-Energy Facility Fire (Feb 22 Update)

Miami (February 22) – As Miami-Dade County continues to respond to the fire at the waste-to-energy facility in Doral, the latest updates and guidance for residents are below.  

Miami-Dade County continues its 24 hour-a-day response at the plant. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue team has gained increased access to the remaining areas of the site and is suppressing small spot-fires. On-site staff continues to clear debris from the site, hauling 109 truckloads of waste from the facility during the last 24 hours. Site operations have created little to no additional smoke, helping to maintain air quality readings for the surrounding area. The latest reports show average particulate concentrations in the good/moderate range, which have already improved with this morning's wind and weather conditions. 

Based on these latest reports, residents in the area can continue to enjoy outdoor activities but should be mindful that conditions may vary throughout the day. Residents should consider heading indoors if they experience smoky conditions and continue limiting their exposure to the immediate area of the plant. We recommend running your air conditioning at home to re-circulate air in your house and changing your air filter more frequently than usual. 

Miami-Dade County continues to coordinate with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghaghami of Jackson Health System (JHS), reviewing daily reports and providing updated health recommendations. Should residents experience any serious health issues including chest pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or an acute skin rash, they should seek medical attention or consider visiting: 

  • UHealth Jackson Urgent Care | Doral located at 7400 NW 104th Ave, Doral, FL 33178 or, 
  • Jackson West Medical Center | Emergency Department located at 2801 NW 79th Ave, Doral, FL 33122   


JHS staff will track and monitor any increase in respiratory cases, although none have been reported at this time. As conditions continue to improve on site, medical staff advise that symptoms caused by particulate pollution exposure should be temporary. 

City of Doral parks remain open and returned to normal programming on Tuesday, February 21. Miami-Dade County Public Schools in the area remain open. MDCPS will reach out directly to parents of schools in the area to share any further updates related to afterschool activities. 

The full reports and the latest updates and information can be found here:  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

Doral residents will continue to receive additional communications and updates from the City of Doral.

February 21, 2023

Fire at County Waste-to-Energy Facility

Miami-Dade County Update on Waste-to-Energy Facility Fire (Feb 21 Update)

Miami (February 21) – As Miami-Dade County continues to respond to the fire at the waste-to-energy facility in Doral, the latest updates and guidance for residents are below. 

Miami-Dade County continues the 24 hour-a-day operation at the plant. A small section within the trash pit continues to smolder and is being targeted with ongoing fire suppression by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, as teams work around the clock to remove the remaining waste from the facility. Smoke levels have significantly improved and the latest air quality readings for the surrounding area show average particulate concentrations in the good/moderate range, which is acceptable air quality per the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Based on the latest readings, residents in the area can enjoy outdoor activities; we encourage you to be mindful that conditions may vary throughout the day as the wind changes, to head indoors if you experience smoky conditions, and limit outdoor exposure in the immediate area of the plant. We recommend running your air conditioning at home to re-circulate air in your house, and changing your air filter more frequently than usual.

City of Doral parks are open and will return to normal programming Tuesday, February 21, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools in the area will be open on Tuesday. MDCPS will reach out directly to parents of schools in the area to share any further updates related to afterschool activities.  

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was on the ground from Monday to Saturday working hand in hand with Miami-Dade County teams to monitor air quality within the facility and surrounding area. Per EPA protocol, monitoring has now shifted to an independent environmental response contractor, CTEH, and air monitoring data will be provided and distributed by CTEH moving forward.

Miami-Dade County is coordinating directly with the EPA and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghaghami of Jackson Health System to review the reports and provide updated recommendations to residents.

The full reports and the latest updates and information can be found here:  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

Doral residents will continue to receive additional communications through the County's emergency text messaging service and from the City of Doral.

February 20, 2023

Fire at County Waste-to-Energy Facility

Miami-Dade County Update on Waste-to-Energy Facility Fire (Feb 20 Update)

Miami (February 20) – As Miami-Dade County continues to respond to the fire at the waste-to-energy facility in Doral, the latest updates and guidance for residents are below.

MDFR first responders continue the 24 hour-a-day operation at the plant, continuing to gain greater access in order to extinguish the fire that remains. Smoke levels continue to significantly improve.

Based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance, residents in the area can enjoy outdoor activities; we encourage you to be mindful that conditions may vary throughout the day as the wind changes and to head indoors if you experience smoky conditions. We recommend running your air conditioning at home to re-circulate air in your house, and changing your air filter more frequently than usual. 

City of Doral parks are open and will return to normal programming Tuesday, February 21, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools in the area will be open on Tuesday. MDCPS will reach out directly to parents of schools in the area to share any further updates related to afterschool activities. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)was on the ground from Monday to Saturday working hand in hand with Miami-Dade County teams to monitor air quality within the facility and surrounding area. Per EPA protocol,monitoring has now shifted to an independent environmental response contractor,CTEH,and air monitoring data will be provided and distributed by CTEH moving forward.

Miami-Dade County is coordinating directly with the EPA and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghaghami of Jackson Health System to review the reports and provide updated recommendations to residents.

The full reports and the latest updates and information can be found here:  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

Doral residents will continue to receive additional communications through the County's emergency text messaging service and from the City of Doral.

February 19, 2023

Fire at County Waste-to-Energy Facility

Miami-Dade County Update on Waste-to-Energy Facility Fire (Feb 19 Update)

Miami (Monday, February 19) – As Miami-Dade County continues to respond to the fire at the waste-to-energy facility in Doral, the latest updates and guidance for residents are below.

MDFR first responders are working tirelessly to put out the blaze, continuing to gain greater access in order to extinguish the remaining fire, and smoke levels continue to decrease.

Based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance, we recommend that residents experiencing smoky conditions remain indoors particularly during the evening and at night; during the cooler night-time hours, wind slows down and the smoke remains lower to the ground. Anyone with preexisting respiratory and cardiac conditions, as well as older adults, young children, and expectant mothers, should take extra precautions, such as wearing a mask if you need to be outdoors. We recommend running your air conditioning at home to re-circulate air in your house, and changing your air filter more frequently than usual. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was on the ground from Monday to Saturday working hand in hand with Miami-Dade County teams to monitor air quality within the facility and surrounding area. Per EPA protocol, monitoring will now shift from the EPA to an independent environmental response contractor – CTEH – which has provided a preliminary air monitoring summary available here.  

Miami-Dade County is coordinating directly with the EPA and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghaghami of Jackson Health System to review the reports and provide updated recommendations to residents. 

The full reports and the latest updates and information can be found here:  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

City of Doral parks are open today and will close at sunset. Doral residents will continue to receive additional communications through the County's emergency text messaging service and from the City of Doral.

February 18, 2023

Fire at County Waste-to-Energy Facility

Miami-Dade County Update on Waste-to-Energy Facility Fire

Miami (Saturday, February 18) – As Miami-Dade County continues to respond to the fire at the waste-to-energy facility in Doral, the latest updates and guidance for residents are below. 

MDFR first responders are working tirelessly to put out the blaze, continuing to gain greater access to the remaining fire, and smoke levels from the plant have decreased as of today. Based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance, we recommend that all residents experiencing smoky conditions remain indoors as much as possible. Anyone with preexisting respiratory and cardiac conditions, as well as older adults, young children, and expectant mothers, should take extra precautions, such as wearing a mask if you need to be outdoors. Please keep your windows rolled up if you need to drive through the area, and run your air conditioning at home to re-circulate air in your house. 

In addition, Doral Glades Park and Doral Legacy Park remain closed out of an abundance of caution. 

The EPA is on site and conducting 24-hour air monitoring for air quality. Miami-Dade County is coordinating directly with the EPA and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghaghami of Jackson Health System to review the reports and provide updated recommendations to residents. 

The full reports and the latest updates and information can be found here:  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

Doral residents will continue to receive additional communications through the County's emergency text messaging service and from the City of Doral.

February 17, 2023

Doral Seal

Covanta Fire Update

Hello. This is your Mayor Christi Fraga, with an update regarding the fire at the Covanta-Waste-to-Energy Plant.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue staff are working tirelessly to put out the blaze, including performing a demolition now underway to create more access for firefighters to put out the fire. As the firefighters gain greater access to the center of the fire, we anticipate an increase in smoky conditions.  

Out of an abundance of caution, and based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations, Doral Glades Park and Doral Legacy Park are closed effective immediately until further notice. All outdoor programming and events at all other parks will be rescheduled to a later date. All Doral Building inspections scheduled for today will be rescheduled to Tuesday, February 21st.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools have advised that they will be communicating directly to parents of schools in the affected area to provide dismissal procedures and further details.

We remind you to continue avoiding the area and to remain indoors today. Those with preexisting respiratory and cardiac conditions, or elderly populations, younger children and expectant mothers, are recommended  to take additional precautions. If you must go outdoors, we recommend you wearing a mask.

Stay tuned for updates on these important developments through the city’s social media platforms and website for updates as we are in constant communication with Miami-Dade County . Visit the County’s website at  www.miamidade.gov/wastefire. We continue working together to resolve this matter as quickly as possible for the safety of our community.
 


El personal del Departamento de Bomberos de Miami-Dade está trabajando incansablemente para apagar el incendio, actualmente se realizara la demolición de un edificio en las instalaciones que para crear más acceso para que los bomberos puedan apaguen el incendio en completo. A medida que los bomberos obtengan un mayor acceso al centro del incendio, anticipamos un aumento en las condiciones de humo.

Por precaución, y según las recomendaciones de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA), Doral Glades Park y Doral Legacy Park seran cerrados de inmediato hasta nuevo aviso. Toda la programación y los eventos al aire libre en todos los demás parques se reprogramarán para una fecha posterior. Todas las inspecciones del Departamento de construccion de Doral programadas para hoy se reprogramarán para el martes 21 de febrero.

Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Miami-Dade han informado que se comunicarán directamente con los padres de las escuelas en el área afectada para brindarles los procedimientos de salida y otros detalles.

Le recordamos que continúe evitando el área y permanezca adentro por lo tanto . Se recomienda que las personas con condiciomes respiratorias y cardíacas preexistentes, o las personas de tercera edad , los niños más pequeños y las mujeres embarazadas tomen precauciones adicionales. Si tienen que salir al aire libre, le recomendamos que use una máscarilla por precaucion.

Manténgase atento a las actualizaciones sobre estos importantes desarrollos a través de las plataformas de redes sociales y el sitio web de la ciudad para obtener actualizaciones, ya que estamos en comunicación constante con el condado de Miami-Dade. Visite el sitio web del condado en  www.miamidade.gov/wastefire diagonal wastefire. Todos los avisos que brinda la Ciudad provienen directamente de sesiones informativas verbales e informes proporcionados por el condado de Miami-Dade. Seguimos trabajando juntos para resolver este asunto lo más rápido posible por la seguridad de nuestra comunidad.

February 15, 2023

Fire at Covanta Facility

SPECIAL UPDATE : Covanta Waste-to-Energy Plant Fire 2/15/23

Please know that the City of Doral remains in constant communication with Miami Dade County as they are the lead agency on this incident, with regular briefings that keep us updated on this important situation.

Currently, the fire is contained to the facility and Miami Dade Fire continues working around the clock to extinguish the fire in the buildings still affected.

The Environmental Protection Agency is on-site and assisting with thorough and continuous testing of air and water quality. As of right now, tests have come back clear. However, smoky conditions from the fire persist in the area. We continue to advise residents to stay indoors, keep windows closed and continue to avoid the area as much as possible. If you need to drive through the area Please keep your windows rolled up and your a/c on circulation.

Road closures remain in place for NW 97th Avenue from NW 58th street to NW 74th Street in north and southbound directions. Eastbound traffic on NW 66th street is closed between NW 97th Avenue and NW 102nd Ave.

We also remind to please stay calm, drive carefully and rest assured that all the agencies involved are committed to quickly resolving this situation and keeping our community safe! Stay tuned for more updates as they become available on the City’s social media platforms and via the County’s webpage –  www.miamidade.gov/wastefire


Message from Mayor Christi Fraga:

Mensaje de la Alcaldesa Christi Fraga:

February 12, 2023

Fire at Covanta Facility

Public Safety Update - Fire at Covanta Facility

The fire at the County Recycling Plant is being contained. Please avoid this area as there will be continuous heavy smoke through out the evening. At this time there are no injuries. The City of Doral is in constant communication with the County to keep you updated. Your safety is our upmost priority.


El incendio en la Planta de Reciclaje del Condado está siendo contenido. Evite esta área ya que habrá humo denso continuo durante toda la noche. En este momento no hay heridos. La Ciudad de Doral está en constante comunicación con el Condado para mantenerlo actualizado. Su seguridad es nuestra máxima prioridad.

February 12, 2023

Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava alerts the community about fire at County waste-to-energy facility

MIAMI-DADE ( February 12, 2023 )– Miami-Dade County is responding to a fire at the Covanta Energy plant in Doral, FL. The blaze reportedly began at 2:00pm today. County personnel are recommending nearby residents remain indoors due to extremely smoky conditions. 

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava issued the following statement to alert the community: 

"I've been fully briefed by our fire, police, and solid waste staff on the fire occurring at the county waste-to-energy facility. Both our Miami-Dade Fire and Miami-Dade Police staff have responded to the blaze and will continue to monitor the situation over the coming hours. 

Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking that all residents who live in the area remain indoors and keep their windows closed.

I am deeply grateful to our brave first responders who, once again, are placing their lives on the line for the safety of our community."

Will the plant resume operations after the fire is contained?

Our priority and focus is on the safety of our residents and the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighters who continue the operation at the site to fully extinguish the remaining smoldering; only after that is complete will we be able to assess the full extent of the damage to the plant and determine next steps. Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Management continues to provide waste services and has successfully redirected waste deliveries to other sites within the County’s disposal system. The concerns about the future of the plant, particularly from the Doral community, will be taken closely into consideration as we strategize long-term disposal options. Any decision to move the plant to a new location will also require the approval of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners. Now more than ever, we ask our entire community to focus on waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting as opportunities to effectively manage our waste.

How long before plant is operational again?

Right now, we don’t know with certainty when or if the plant will be operational again. Our priority and focus is on the safety of our residents and the Miami-Dade firefighters who continue the operation at the site to fully extinguish the remaining smoldering; only after that is complete will we be able to assess damage to the plant and determine next steps. Solid Waste Management continues to provide waste services and has successfully redirected waste deliveries to other sites within the County’s disposal system. The concerns about the future of the plant, particularly from the Doral community, will be taken closely into consideration as we strategize long-term disposal options.

How is Covanta and the Miami Dade county going to compensate the residents in the closest proximity for the health risks that this situation imposed on the residents in the closest proximity of the facility, as well as for damages to homes ?

Miami-Dade County continues to work in close partnership with the City of Doral, the US Environmental Protection Agency, health experts from Jackson Health System and other local and state agencies and stakeholders to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the residents living, working and attending school in the surrounding area while we respond to the fire, and air quality monitoring has been a priority since the beginning. Air quality testing is ongoing and the results are regularly reported in our briefings with the City of Doral and Miami-Dade County Public Schools officials and made available to the public on the website  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

We are in constant communication with local health officials and have not seen an uptick in reports of respiratory or other health issues in the time period following the facility fire. The health and safety of our residents remains a chief priority.

We have not received any reports of damages to homes in the area, but should any residents need to report damage or concerns we encourage you to call Miami-Dade County 3-1-1 to provide further information so we can assist.

Did “acid rain” result from the fire?

There were no levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide in air samples collected by the EPA to indicate the potential of acid rain, and Doral did not have any rain until several days after the fire was extinguished. We do not believe any acid rain resulted from the fire.

What was the cause of the fire?

The cause is currently being investigated by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Miami-Dade Police Department alongside engineering experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Why weren’t helicopters used to extinguish the fire?

Helicopters are more likely to be used to fight large grass fires that are inaccessible to fire trucks. Helicopters are rarely used to fight structure fires because the roof would likely deflect the water. Additionally, the amount of water carried by a helicopter is only 300-400 gallons, which is insufficient to extinguish this large fire.

Is the air posing a possibility of harm to the residents around the area of the plant?

We have been in constant communication with our health experts at Jackson Health System to review the air quality data. The air around the plant contains low levels of particulate matter (dust) and no elevations of toxic chemicals; thus the air will not harm residents.

Has Jackson West Hospital or other health care facilities seen an increase of visits for asthma attacks?

Jackson Health has seen no increase in visits related to the fire at any of our locations.

Why are they only measuring the air quality 1.6 miles away yet advisories were for those within 2 mile radius?

Residential and commercial locations potentially downwind of the plant were selected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 On-Scene Coordinator for air monitoring. CTEH is continuing to conduct air monitoring at each of these locations. Air monitoring data collected by CTEH is being provided to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the EPA, and Jackson Health System to support advisory notifications to the public.

What happens if air quality monitoring yields “unhealthy” results?

When average particulate matter readings are within the ‘unhealthy’ air quality index range, EPA recommendations are to consider closing schools and cancelling outdoor events. EPA also recommends that affected neighborhoods stay indoors. Our air quality readings are not returning “unhealthy” results in the area surrounding the plant, as we continue to monitor and provide updated air quality reports available at  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

What MERV rating do you recommend for the air filters for the households close to the affected area?

If smoke is inside your home, according to the EPA, a medium efficiency filter (MERV 5-8) can improve air quality inside. Higher efficiency filters (MERV 9-12) will work even better. Filters with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) rating (or MERV 17-20) are the most efficient. If you can’t switch to a more efficient filter, running the system continuously by switching the thermostat fan from “Auto” to “On” has been shown to reduce indoor particle concentrations. Out of an abundance of caution we have continued to recommend that residents change their air filters more frequently since the fire began.

How far from the fire are the instruments that measure the air quality?

CTEH has been conducting air monitoring operations 24 hours a day at potential downwind locations selected by the EPA Region 4 On-Scene Coordinator. These locations are up to 1.6 miles downwind of the plant.

Why did the EPA transition out for another company to take over testing?

It is standard protocol for the EPA to shift air monitoring to an independent environmental response contractor. EPA reviewed CTEH’s air monitoring and sampling plan and methodology and is receiving the ongoing air monitoring data being collected.

What exactly ere the chemicals that are being emitted into the air?

CTEH developed and implemented an air sampling and analysis plan, which was reviewed by the EPA, to monitor for potential fire smoke related compounds, including carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). At this time, only PM2.5 has been detected on air monitoring instruments in residential and commercial locations offsite during the timeframe that CTEH has been conducting air monitoring. Air monitoring summaries prepared by EPA and CTEH are available at  miamidade.gov/wastefire.

Once the fire is stopped, how long will it take for the air to go back to baseline levels?

Wind direction, wind speed, and outdoor temperature are factors that can affect levels of smoke in the air. Once the fire is stopped, CTEH will conduct additional air monitoring to evaluate changing conditions.

Have soil samples also been tested?

Soil sampling activities have not been determined to be necessary since no impacts have been observed. Based on the manner in which the water portion of the fire-fighting operations has been managed on the site and understanding that the on-site surface water management system has been contained within the lined canals and disposed of through the leachate trench industrial pretreatment system (prior to disposal via the sewer system), soil sampling is not deemed to be necessary.

Even before the fire, the Doral community had petitioned to have the plant moved elsewhere in the interest of the residents health. What is the plan long-term to address the fact that this plant has been affecting the nearby residential areas, schools, and businesses?

With the health and wellness of our community always as the top priority, the City of Doral has consistently advocated for moving the Covanta waste-to-energy plant outside of the City, to an area with less impact to residents. Unfortunately, with the jurisdiction for Covanta operations falling under Miami-Dade County, the decisions have been made by Miami-Dade County Commissioners to approve keeping the plant in Doral. Mayor Christi Fraga and City Council remain committed to working however they can to urge the Miami-Dade County Commission to move the plant away from Doral.

Following the fire at the Covanta Waste-to-Energy plant, that began on February 12, 2023, City of Doral leadership and residents united to ask for action from the Miami-Dade County (MDC) Board of County Commissions. At the recent MDC Commission Meeting, Mayor Christi Fraga, Doral Councilmembers and concerned citizens attended and spoke during public comments, imploring the Commissioners to find solutions that will remove the Covanta plant from Doral. After speaking to their experience with the fire and affects it had on their health and wellness, and waiting for several hours for the item to be discussed, the MDC Board of County Commissioners rescinded the hasty vote they took last year that would’ve resulted in a new plant being built near the current one, still in the City of Doral.

This is a step in the right direction as they will now be evaluating other locations to possibly move the plant outside of our community. At the March Doral Council Meeting, Mayor Fraga and Council approved additional measures to aid in these efforts that include the creation of a petition and hiring of experts to also look at viable options, both of which will be instrumental in helping Doral succeed in having the plant moved. There is still much to do and it will require the community to remain united, active and engaged. We ask that you continue to follow the City of Doral on social media and visiting  www.cityofdoral.com/wastefire for updates and calls to action as this process is ongoing. Thank you, Doral!

How/when were updates communicated to the residents?

Updates to the community were in effect as soon as we were made aware of the matter. Updates were posted on social media immediately asking the public to avoid the area. As Miami Dade Fire is the lead agency on this matter, they did provide more details, and as those facts were made available to the City, additional advisories took place in the form of City website news updates, social media posts, email blasts, and calls to our residents from Mayor Christi Fraga, through DoralAlerts. The City of Doral thanks Miami-Dade County and all the agencies involved that worked closely with us to provide daily briefings which the City communicated through our regular advisories to the community.

Where can I find air quality testing reports?

Miami-Dade County is posting testing reports online through their  website.

How can I stay informed on this situation?

To ensure you don’t miss important updates, we encourage you to follow @Cityofdoral on  Instagram,  Facebook,  Twitter, check our  websiteand subscribe to  DoralAlerts. Additionally, you can sign-up to receive email communications by joining our  email database.

Has drinking water been affected?

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) has worked throughout the area checking the drinking water system and has confirmed that the drinking water is as it should be. If you experience any issues, please contact WASD and they will go to the specific address and verify the water quality. Call the 24-hour call center at  305-274-9272.

How many people joined the town hall meeting?

The Virtual Town Hall Meeting had approximately 450 participants. We thank our community for being engaged and joining us to learn more about this very important matter. Video of the meeting is available to watch  online.

February 18, 2023

Virtual Town Hall Meeting

Virtual Town Hall Meeting - Saturday, February 18th, 2:30pm

City of Doral Officials invite you to participate in a virtual town hall meeting TODAY at 2:30pm, along with Miami-Dade County, Miami Dade Public School Board, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Jackson Health representatives.

Join us for updates and Q&A regarding the Covanta Waste-to-Energy Plant Fire. Your participation and feedback is valuable!

 Register


Los funcionarios de la ciudad de Doral lo invitan a participar en una reunión comunitaria virtual HOY a las 2:30pm, junto con representantes del condado de Miami-Dade, la Junta de Escuelas Públicas de Miami Dade, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA), y de Jackson Health.

Únase a nosotros para obtener actualizaciones y una sesion de preguntas y respuestas sobre el incendio de la planta de Covanta. ¡Su participación y comentarios son valiosos!

 Registrase

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